Bobby.H

Q: How do I install an operating system on my erased hard drive when I get the error "This item is unavailable"?

So i erased my MacBook's hard drive trying to get a fresh, clean system install. After erasing, I tried to install a new OS X with the Recovery drive but after entering my Apple ID it simply says "This item is currently unavailable, Please try again later." So now my computer has no operating system on it, and I can't get one.

MacBook

Posted on Dec 15, 2014 12:47 PM

Close

Q: How do I install an operating system on my erased hard drive when I get the error "This item is unavailable"?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 Next
  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Dec 15, 2014 12:52 PM in response to Bobby.H
    Level 10 (271,174 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 15, 2014 12:52 PM in response to Bobby.H

    You may need to do the following. Check this to be sure you can: Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery. If you are OK:

     

    Install OS X Using Internet Recovery

     

    Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.

     

    Boot to the Internet Recovery HD:

     

    Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-OPTION- R keys until a globe appears on the screen. Wait patiently - 15-20 minutes - until the Recovery main menu appears.

     

    Partition and Format the hard drive:

     

    1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
    2. After DU loads select your newly installed hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
    3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed. Quit DU and return to the main menu.

     

    Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Install button. Be sure to select the correct drive to use if you have more than one.

     

    Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

     

    This should restore the version of OS X originally pre-installed on the computer.

     

    If the above does not work, then you have to first install Snow Leopard:

     

    Clean Install of Snow Leopard

     

         1. Boot the computer using the Snow Leopard Installer Disc or the Disc 1 that came

             with your computer.  Insert the disc into the optical drive and restart the computer.

             After the chime press and hold down the  "C" key.  Release the key when you see

             a small spinning gear appear below the dark gray Apple logo.

     

         2. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue

             button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.

             After DU loads select the hard drive entry from the left side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive

             size.)  Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.  Set the number of

             partitions to one (1) from the Partitions drop down menu, click on Options button

             and select GUID, click on OK, then set the format type to MacOS Extended

             (Journaled, if supported), then click on the Apply button.

     

         3. When the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer.  Proceed

             with the OS X installation and follow the directions included with the installer.

     

         4. When the installation has completed your computer will Restart into the Setup

             Assistant. After you finish Setup Assistant will complete the installation after which

             you will be running a fresh install of OS X.  You can now begin the update process

             by opening Software Update and installing all recommended updates to bring your

             installation current.

     

    Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.


    You can now upgrade from the App Store, but right now Apple's servers are not working for Snow Leopard users, so be patient and keep trying to download Yosemite.

  • by Bobby.H,

    Bobby.H Bobby.H Dec 15, 2014 1:43 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 15, 2014 1:43 PM in response to Kappy

    Well I tried to do this.

     

    I looked at the firmware list, but it won't really do me any good anyway because I don't have an operating system on my Macbook to download any firmware.

     

    So I took the steps to do the partition thing and it just ended up saying "Couldn't unmount disc" and stopped. Now there is no "Macintosh HD" drive for me to even TRY to reinstall an OS on. Now I can ONLY boot into recovery HD.

     

    Edit: After restarting and entering the recovery HD again "Macintosh HD" is available again. But the partition steps stopped me with "Couldn't unmount disc" and the Install OSX option still says unavailable right now.

  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Dec 15, 2014 2:00 PM in response to Bobby.H
    Level 10 (271,174 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 15, 2014 2:00 PM in response to Bobby.H

    There is no need to partition the drive. All you needed was what you already had. Either you try to use another Mac with Firewire ports so you can install something on your computer or you buy yourself a copy of Snow Leopard or replacement discs for your specific model. You can get the latter from Apple Support:

     

    Apple Store Customer Service at 1-800-676-2775 or visit online Help for more information.


    To contact product and tech support: Contacting Apple for support and service - this includes

    international calling numbers..


    You can purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.

     

    After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store. Access to the App Store enables you to download Mavericks if your computer meets the requirements.

     

    Note that the retail copy of Snow Leopard is 10.6.3. It can only boot your computer if your computer came with 10.6.2 or earlier. That's a model from 2009 or earlier.

  • by Bobby.H,

    Bobby.H Bobby.H Dec 15, 2014 3:57 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 15, 2014 3:57 PM in response to Kappy

    Kappy wrote:

     

    Note that the retail copy of Snow Leopard is 10.6.3. It can only boot your computer if your computer came with 10.6.2 or earlier. That's a model from 2009 or earlier.

     

    My machine is a 13" MacBook Pro from mid-2010.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Dec 15, 2014 7:44 PM in response to Bobby.H
    Level 10 (271,174 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 15, 2014 7:44 PM in response to Bobby.H

    You will need the original installer discs that came with the computer when it was new. If you don't have them then you will need to purchase replacements from Apple:

     

    Apple Store Customer Service at 1-800-676-2775 or visit online Help for more information.

     

    To contact product and tech support: Contacting Apple for support and service - this includes

    international calling numbers..

  • by Bobby.H,

    Bobby.H Bobby.H Dec 16, 2014 12:30 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2014 12:30 AM in response to Kappy

    I know lots of other people with macs though, you mentioned I can somehow use Firewire to install firmware via someone else's machine? How do i do that?

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Dec 16, 2014 10:51 AM in response to Bobby.H
    Level 10 (271,174 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 16, 2014 10:51 AM in response to Bobby.H

    Do you have an OS X version that would boot that computer on another computer? Do both have Firewire ports? If so, then see Target Disk Mode. It would be possible to clone the drive from one computer to the other provided the cloned system can boot the other computer.

     

    Clone Yosemite, Mavericks, Lion/Mountain Lion using Restore Option of Disk Utility

     

    Boot to the Recovery HD:

     

    Restart the computer with the bootable system and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button. The computer you will clone to should be booted beforehand into TDM.

     

         1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu then press the Continue

             button.

         2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.

         3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.

         4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it

             to the Destination entry field.

         5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to

             the Source entry field.

         6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.

     

    Destination means the the computer in TDM. Source means the other computer's drive.

  • by Bobby.H,

    Bobby.H Bobby.H Dec 16, 2014 5:41 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2014 5:41 PM in response to Kappy

    I don't have any disc with any OS X. I had Mavericks before I erased it, unsure about what version exactly. What specifications would the "other computer" need to have to be "able to boot my computer with it"? They would both have Firewire ports.

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Dec 16, 2014 7:43 PM in response to Bobby.H
    Level 7 (25,796 points)
    Dec 16, 2014 7:43 PM in response to Bobby.H

    Did you buy the system new or used?  That system shipped with 10.6.3 so there should be the original DVDs for the system somewhere. If you bought it used and the seller did not supply the disks (or you bought it new and lost them) then you will need to contact  Apple and get the disk.

     

    Was the last OS running on the system (I believe you said it was Mavericks) purchased with your Apple ID ?  As you are booting into recovery mode and getting the error when you try to log into the  Apple store I'm guessing there is a mess up either with the Apple ID or the fact it is trying to get Mavericks and Mavericks is no longer available in the store.  

  • by s_delrosa,

    s_delrosa s_delrosa Dec 16, 2014 9:22 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2014 9:22 PM in response to Kappy

    I simply want to thank you for your very clear and knowledgeable explanation of how to restore a clean version of Snow Leopard! Like Bobby H. and many others I was stuck since last week with the apple server message "item temporary unavailable" after trying to restore Lion on my old laptop. And I had swiped off the hard drive already, so I was trying the recovery option through the web but and everything else following other threads here in the community without success. I wrote to the Apple support, but nobody replied. So I was ready to go to the Apple store, but quite frustrated too...Tonight though I did another search and following links I arrived to your reply: I followed all your instructions and I'm now finally reinstalling Snow Leopard from the original disc! Thank you!!!

  • by Bobby.H,

    Bobby.H Bobby.H Dec 16, 2014 10:42 PM in response to Frank Caggiano
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2014 10:42 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

    I bought the system new, but I don't think I can locate the disc that came with it unfortunately. The last OS that was running was Mavericks, I got it from the App Store when it was a free upgrade, yes. My intention was to wipe the drive and upgrade to try Yosemite, however I now have a wiped drive and no OS.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Dec 17, 2014 10:53 AM in response to Bobby.H
    Level 9 (71,583 points)
    iTunes
    Dec 17, 2014 10:53 AM in response to Bobby.H

    Contact Apple Support and have the serial number of your computer available. They will send you new disks for a small fee.

  • by Bobby.H,

    Bobby.H Bobby.H Dec 19, 2014 11:52 AM in response to Bobby.H
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 19, 2014 11:52 AM in response to Bobby.H

    I just got a new 10.6.3 Snow Leopard install disc and put it in the machine. In the install process when I choose a drive to install the OS onto, "Macintosh HD" appears with a yellow error triangle on it and it says that "MAC OS X cannot startup from this disk".

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Dec 19, 2014 12:19 PM in response to Bobby.H
    Level 7 (25,796 points)
    Dec 19, 2014 12:19 PM in response to Bobby.H

    Bobby.H wrote:

     

    I just got a new 10.6.3 Snow Leopard install disc and put it in the machine. In the install process when I choose a drive to install the OS onto, "Macintosh HD" appears with a yellow error triangle on it and it says that "MAC OS X cannot startup from this disk".

    Did you boot from the install DVD?

Page 1 Next